Over 500 Fuel Stations Run Dry Despite Government Assurances

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said six cancelled fuel shipments to Australia had been replaced with cargoes from other countries.

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen addresses the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on March 10, 2026. Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images

Over 500 fuel stations across Australia have run dry, even as the government insists overall supply remains stable—highlighting a growing disconnect between national supply and local shortages.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen told the parliament on March 26 that shortages affecting petrol, diesel or both had spread across multiple states, with New South Wales (NSW) the worst hit. The state recorded 178 fuel stations without diesel and 48 with no fuel at all.